Japan Fears Reprisals After Mob Boss Is Slain

Japan prepared for a burst of gangland violence today after a leading figure in the top crime syndicate was shot to death by four assailants in a hotel in Kobe, the police said.

''This could trigger a major battle between rival syndicates,'' a police investigator told Jiji Press after Masaru Takumi, 61, was pronounced dead in a hospital after the shooting at the New Kobe Oriental Hotel.

The police mobilized almost 3,400 officers after the attack.

Mr. Takumi was reputed to be the No. 2 leader in the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's main crime syndicate.

Public shootouts are rare in Japan. ''I'm worried because this happened in front of a crowd of children and other people,'' one witness told a broadcast network.